Where to stay in Iceland: hotels, guesthouses, camping and campervans
- 12 sources cited
- Last verified 2026-10-24
- Published 2026-10-24
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Plan your beds around your driving days, not the other way round. On the South Coast, book early in summer; elsewhere, check that there is somewhere to sleep at the end of each stage before you commit to a route.
Booking ahead
- Visit Iceland advises booking accommodation between Selfoss and Höfn well ahead in summer [1].
- In winter, choose bookings you can change: weather can force you to stay put, and Visit Iceland advises flexibility [2].
- Fewer, longer stays mean fewer check-ins and less packing. Our itineraries are built around a few bases.
We do not publish hotel or guesthouse prices: they change with demand and we have no official reference to cite. Enter your own quote in the cost calculator.
Camping and campervans: the rules
From the Environment Agency of Iceland [3]:
- Under Act 60/2013 it is illegal to spend the night in campervans, caravans, tent trailers and similar outside organised campsites or urban areas, unless the landowner allows it [3].
- Rules for tents differ; read the agency's page before you pitch outside a campsite [3].
- Some places ban or restrict overnight stays, including Þingvellir outside marked areas, Skógafoss, Dyrhólaey, Mývatn and Dynjandi [3].
- Off-road driving to reach a spot is illegal [4].
National park campsite prices (example)
Vatnajökull National Park's price list: Skaftafell and Ásbyrgi campsites cost ISK 2,800 per adult (17–66) per night; children 16 and under stay free [5]. Other campsites set their own prices.
Our sister site covers campsites in detail: Iceland campsites guide (sister site) (coming soon) (link is a placeholder until the site launches).
Swimming pools: the local way to warm up
A public pool is a simple, low-cost end to a driving day. Reykjavík's city pools, prices effective 5 May 2026 [6]:
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult, single admission | ISK 1,500 [6] |
| Children 0–9 (with guardian) | Free [6] |
| Age 10–17 | ISK 400 [6] |
| Towel rental | ISK 860 [6] |
| Swimwear rental | ISK 1,270 [6] |
Pools outside Reykjavík are run by their own municipalities and have their own prices and hours. We do not list opening hours: check the pool's own page on the day.
More planning
FAQ
Can I wild camp or sleep in a campervan anywhere in Iceland?
No. Sleeping in campervans, caravans, tent trailers and similar outside organised campsites or urban areas without the landowner's permission is illegal under Act 60/2013. Tent rules are separate and some places ban overnight stays entirely. [3]
How much does a Reykjavík swimming pool cost?
Adult single admission is ISK 1,500; children 0–9 are free with a guardian and 10–17-year-olds pay ISK 400 (prices effective 5 May 2026). [6]
Sources
- The Ring Road – Route Number One
Visit Iceland · accessed 2026-10-24 - 5 golden rules for planning a trip to Iceland
Visit Iceland · accessed 2026-10-24 - Where can you camp?
Environment Agency of Iceland (Umhverfisstofnun) · accessed 2026-10-24 - Off-road driving leaflet
Environment Agency of Iceland (Umhverfisstofnun) · accessed 2026-10-24 · via curl + pdftotext - Pricelist
Vatnajökull National Park · accessed 2026-10-24 - Fees for swimming pools
Reykjavíkurborg (City of Reykjavík) · accessed 2026-10-24 - Umferdin.is: road conditions map (road.is redirects here)
Vegagerðin · accessed 2026-10-24 - Opening of mountain roads
Vegagerðin · accessed 2026-10-24 - Icelandic Met Office (Veðurstofa Íslands), English site
Icelandic Met Office (IMO) · accessed 2026-10-24 - Travel conditions (alerts)
Safetravel / ICE-SAR · accessed 2026-10-24 - Travel plans
Safetravel / ICE-SAR · accessed 2026-10-24 - 112 – When in need of assistance
Neyðarlínan (112 Iceland) · accessed 2026-10-24